Press Briefing by Ari Fleischer
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
Helen Thomas and Ari Fleischer address the finer points of casus belli, nose-thumbing, and Saddam Hussein.
Helen.Well, now we know what the future held. And what it didn't.
Q What recent provocation can the President show the American people by Iraq against America to justify bombing Iraq, killing Americans and killing Iraqis?
MR. FLEISCHER: Okay. Without going into the second part of your question --
Q Recent. Recent provocation. Anything that would justify going to war.
MR. FLEISCHER: Okay. Without going into the second part of your question and justification for any potential action that the President may or may not decide to take --
Q He doesn't think he has to have one?
MR. FLEISCHER: The fact of the matter is Iraq today is thumbing its nose at the world. Iraq is not honoring the obligations it committed to when Saddam Hussein signed a peace agreement to end the Persian Gulf War. He continues to refuse to allow weapons inspectors into Iraq, he continues to violate the policies that allow for oil to be exported from Iraq. Saddam Hussein has thumbed his nose at the world, and has lied and not kept his obligations.
Q Thumbed his nose at the U.N., but not at the U.S. per se, so why is it a U.S. role?
MR. FLEISCHER: Helen, I thought you would be the first to say the U.S. plays a role in the U.N. We belong. And Saddam Hussein's --
Q Okay, then vote in the U.N.
MR. FLEISCHER: When Saddam Hussein violates his word that he gave when the Persian Gulf War ended, by saying he would allow for unfettered inspection by international inspectors, and does not keep his word, that's a real cause of concern for the United States and for the United Nations.
Q It may be a cause of concern, but is it a cause to go to war and kill a lot of people?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm not going to speculate about what the future may or may not hold.
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